The vast majority of Americans are opposed to the banning of online casinos, according to a new poll.

The survey, conducted by public opinion organisation Zogby International and posted by website OnlineGamblingMythsAndFacts.com (OGMF), said that almost 80 per cent of Americans opposed proposals from the federal government to severely restrict online gambling.

Online gambling has become big business, with millions of people around the world playing from their living rooms.

OGMF, which was established to dispel inaccuracies about the industry, said that 30,000 people responded to the survey.

Most of the respondents said they believed that gambling is a matter of freedom of choice, with 71 per cent opposing the federal government stopping US adults from gambling with licensed and regulated online casinos and sportsbooks overseas.